Self interest means someone’s private interest. Self interest is akin to selfishness. In the words of John Steinbeck, “It has always seemed strange to me... the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second.” Someone who always thinks of his or her benefit always has private or self interest in mind. Friendship or relationship without nay self interest is one of the most beautiful experiences of life. People who have friends and well-wishers who never think of self interest are deemed to be blessed. Self interest is the enemy of all true affection and love and makes one selfish. In the words of Henri Frederic Amiel, “Self-interest is but the survival of the animal in us. Humanity only begins for man with self-surrender”.
